Toy theater



J. GREEN TOY THEATER Jan. 21, 1969 Filed April 6, 1966 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH GREEN FIG. 4.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,422,562 l TOY THEATER Joseph Green,Hewlett, N.Y., assignor to Miner Industries Inc., New York, N.Y., acorporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 540,582 U.S. Cl.46-13 9 Claims Int. Cl. A63h 33/42; A63h 33/26 ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A toy theater is provided with a folded cardboard stagehaving a back portion with a layer of magnetizable material thereof andopenings adjacent the side edges of the back portion, a number ofcardboard figures each having at least one magnet by which it may beheld to the front surface of the back portion of the stage and eachdimensioned to enter and exit through the openings, and at least oneactuating member movable over the rearwardly facing surface of the backportion of the stage and having a magnet to magnetically attract themagnet of a figure held to the front surface for effecting selectedmovements of such figure.

This invention relates generally to toys, and more particularly isdirected to a toy theater with which a child can present animated circusacts or other performances.

An object of this invention is to provide a toy of the describedcharacter which is relatively inexpensive to produce, and which enhancesthe appearance and interest of animated performances presentedtherewith.

Another object is to provide a toy of the described character thatincludes a stage and a plurality of figures representing performers,animals, stage props or equipment, and wherein such figures are moved oranimated from in back of the stage so that, to viewers positioned infront of the stage, the movements imparted to the figures appear to bespontaneous or independent of control by the child presenting theperformance.

A further object is to provide a toy of the described character in whichthe stage has a vertical back portion with magnetizable material thereonto cooperate with magnets carried by the figures for holding the latterto the back portion of the stage, and the movements or animation of thegures are effected by at least one actuating member movable over therearwardly facing surface of the back portion of the stage and having amagnet to magnetically attract the magnet of a selected figure held tothe back portion of the stage for effecting selected movements of suchfigure.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the stage is of foldedcardboard and has top, side and fioor portions extending forwardly fromthe edges of the back portion which may have the magnetizable materialthereon in the form of steel foil bonded thereto, and the side portionsof the stage have flaps struck inwardly therefrom to define openingsadjacent the side edges of the back portion through which the figurescan enter and exit from the stage, with such fiaps further forming wingsto shield the openings from view at the front of the stage.

Further, in a preferred embodiment, the figures are also formed ofcardboard and at least some of the figures are made up of a plurality ofpivotally connected parts which, in some instances, are provided withrespective magnets to produce unusual animation effects or movementswhen such magnets are inuenced by the actuating member or members.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof, which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

A 3,422,562 Patented Jan. 2l, 1969 ICC FIG. 1 is a front elevationalview of a toy theater embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2 2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flat cardboard blank which can be folded toform the stage of the toy theater shown on FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a typical figure included inthetoy theater; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another typical gure included inthe toy theater in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, it will be seen that a top theater 10l embodying this inventiongenerally comprises a stage 11, a plurality of figures 12a, 12b and 12Cwhich are magnetically held to the stage, as hereinafter described indetail, and one or more actuating members 13 by which the variousfigures can be moved about the stage or animated.

The stage 11 is preferably formed of a stiff cardboard and is shown toinclude a rectangular back portion 14 having a layer 15 (FIG. 2) ofmagnetizable material, for example, steel foil, adhesively bonded orotherwise secured to the back surface of back portion 14. Side portions16, a top portion 17 and a oor portion 18 extend forwardly from backportion 14 along the edges of the latter, with the side and top portions16 and 17 preferably enclosing an angle greater than for example, anangle of 135, with respect to the plane of back portion 14, whereasfloor portion 18 extends at right angles to back portion 14 and thus isdisposed horizontally when back portion 14 is in a vertical position, asshown on FIG. 2. Side portions 16 and top portion 17 have rims 19extending along their free edges, and such rims are preferably die-cutso as to have edges of suitably ornamental configuration for defining aproscenium of the stage 11.

An apron 20 depends from the forward edge of floor portion 18, and abase 21 (FIG. 2) extends rearwardly from the bottom of apron 20 and, atits rear edge, is joined to an upwardly directed securing flap 22 whichis adhesively or otherwise secured to back portion 14 adjacent thebottom of the latter so as to maintain'fioor por-tion 18 and ibase 21 insubstantially parallel relationship. Thus, base 21 can rest on a tableor other suitable supporting surface `and floor portion 18 is thenelevated from such supporting surface.

In accordance with this invention, side portions 16 of stage 11 areprovided with flaps 23 (FIGS. 1 and 2) struck inwardly therefrom todefine openings 24 (FIG. 2) extending along the opposite side edges of*back portion 14, with such fiaps 23 further defining wings shieldingthe openings 24 from view at the front of the stage, as is apparent onFIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will `be seen that the stage 11 ispreferably formed of a single cardboard blank 11a and that the varioussections of such blank are identified Iby the same reference numerals asthe corresponding portions of the stage, but with the letter a appendedto each such reference numeral. Thus, cardboard blank 11a includes amajor rectangular section 14a for forming the back portion 14, andmarginal sections 16a, 17a and 18a foldably joined to major section 14aat score lines 25, 26 and 27, respectively, extending along the edges ofsection 14a and intended to form the sides, top and floor portions ofthe stage 11. Extending along the youter edges of sections 16a and 17a,and joined thereto 'by score lines 28, are sections 19a havingornamentally cut free edges to define the ornamental rims 19-constituting the proscenium of the erected stage.

The upper ends of sections 16a and the opposite ends of section 17a arecut obliquely, as shown, and are provided with slots 29 and tabs 30which are interengageable for the purpose of securing together the sideand top portions 16 and 17 of the stage in the desired angled positionswith respect to lback portion 14.

Foldably joined to floor forming section 18a, as at a score line 31, isan elongated section 20a to form the apron 20, and the score line 31 ispreferably, at regular intervals, intercepted by arcuate cuts 32extending into the material of section 18a so that, when section 20a isfolded at right angles to section 18a, as in the completed stage, thematerial within the arcuate cuts 32 will project upwardly from the apron20, as at 33 on FIGS. l and 2, to simulate the appearance of foot lightsspaced apart along the front edge of floor portion 18.

The end edges of section 18a are cut o-bliquely, as at 34, so as to lbeseparated from sections 16a, and further to lie against the latter whenthe stage is in its erected position, as on FIGS. l and 2. The ends ofsection 20a are provided with tabs 35 engageable in slots 36 formed insections 16a adjacent their lower ends so as to securely hold sideportions 16, floor portion 18 and apron 20 of the stage in theirassembled relationship.

A section 21a, which is similar in configuration to section 18a isjoined to section 20a, as at score line 37 extending along the edge ofapron forming section 20a remote from floor forming section 18a. Anadditional section 22a intended to form the securing flap 22 is joinedto the base forming section 21a at a score line 38 and may have adhesiveapplied to a surface thereof for secure attachment to 'back portion 14when the stage is erected.

As shown, blank 11a is cut along lines 39 which extend upwardly alongsubstantial parts of the side edges of main section 14a from the ends ofscore line 27. The blank is further cut along lines 40 extendinggenerally transversely from the upper ends of cuts 39 approximatelymidway across sections 16a, and score lines 41 extend downwardly fromcuts 40 parallel to cuts 39 and intercept, at their lower ends,l.generally Z-shaped cuts 42 which intercept or extend to the obliquecuts 34 at the ends of section 18a. Such Z-shaped cuts 42 define tabs 43at the lower ends of the flap forming parts 23a of sections 16a. Whenthe stage is being erected, parts 23a of sections 16a are foldedinwardly from the latter about score lines 41 and the tabs 43 at theirlower ends are engaged in slots 44 suitably positioned in section 18a,thereby to retain the flaps 23 in the desired positions parallel to theplane of back portion 14 and spaced forwardly from the latter.

As shown on FIG. 1, the play pieces or figures 12a, 12b and 12o mayrepresent performers, stage props, animals, and other objects commonlyassociated with theatrical or circus performances. In accordance withthis invention, each of the figures includes a generally fiat cardboardIbody 44 Which is suitably shaped and printed or colored, for example,so as to represent a ball as on FIG. 4, and such cardboard body has atleast one permanent magnet 45 adhesively or otherwise secured to its`back sur-face so as to cooperate with the magnetic layer 15 in holdingthe figure to the front surface of back portion 14 of the stage. Inaccordance with this invention, all of the figures employed inconnection with the stage 11 are dimensioned so as to be capable ofentering and exiting from the stage 11 through the winged openings 24,whereby a child presenting the performance can initially engage theselected figures with fback portion 14, or remove the figures from suchback portion through the openings 24 at the sides of the stage and suchmanipulation of the figures will not be observable from in front of lthestage Iby reason of the shielding effect of the flaps or wings 23.

The `actuating members 13 for effecting movements of the several figuresmagnetically adhered to the front surface of back portion 14 may eachinclude a rod or wand 46 having a head 47 at one end carrying a magnet48 (FIG. 2) which can be moved over the rearwardly facing surface ofback portion 14 from positions at the sides of the stage 11. The magnet48 of each actuating member 13 is preferably polarized so as to `attractthe magnets 45 of the various figures, whereby the movement of themagnet 48 of each `actuating member 13 will effect selected movements ofa figure 12a-c when the actuating member is in the vicinity of a magnetor magnets of the figure. Thus, movements of the figures magneticallyadhering to the front surface of back portion 14 of the stage can beeffected from in back of the stage, whereby the instrumentalities thateffect such movements of the figures will be hidden from the audience.

As shown particularly on FIG. 5, one or more of the figures 12d to beemployed in the toy theater 10 may have its cardboard body 44d formed inseveral parts 49, 50 and 51 which are pivotally connected, as by a rivet52 or the like, for example, to represent the head and torso and thelegs, respectively, of a man on stilts, as shown. Where the cardboardbody 44d of the figure is fonmed in several parts, 'as in the case ofthe figure 12d, two or more of such parts may Shave respective magnetssecured to their back surfaces, as at 53, 54 and 55, with such magnetsbeing preferably spaced from the pivot 52. With the arrangement shown onFIG. 5, the several parts 49, 50 and 5'1 of the figure 12d will beindividually held tot the back portion 14 by the respective magnets andone or more of such magnets can be 4made to move over back portion 14 byactuating members 13, as described above, thereby to impart tunique,animated movements to the figure. In order to permit the leg parts 50and 51 of figure 12d to swing past each other, the leg part 50 may bemade longer than the leg part 51, as shown, thereby to cause the magnet54 to clear the lower end of leg part 51.

Although a few forms of figures 12a-d have been illustrated in thedrawing, it is obvious that great variations are possible in theperformers, animals or objects represented by the figures so as to makeit possible to present varied and interesting performances.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has beenidescribed in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that preciseembodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of this invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising a folded cardboard stage includinfg a floor portion,a back portion extending upwardly from the rear edge of said oor portionand having a layer of magnetizable material secured thereto, and sideand top portions extending forwardly from said back portion to define aproscenium, said side portions having flaps. struck inwardly therefromto define openings adjacent the side edges of said back portion, saidflaps shielding said openings from View at the front of the stage;

a plurality of cardboard figures each having at least one magnet securedto the back thereof so as to cooperate with said layer of magnetizablematerial of the back portion in magnetically holding the cardboardligure to said back portion, each of said cardboard figures beingdimensioned to enter and exit from said stage through said openings inthe side portions thereof;

and at least one actuating member movable over the rearwardly facingsurface of said back portion of the stage `and having a magnet tomagnetically attract the magnet of a cardboard figure lheld to the frontsurface of said back portion and thereby effect selected movements ofsaid figure.

2. A toy according to claim 1; wherein said layer of magnetizablematerial consists of a sheet of steel foil bonded to said back portionof the cardboard stage.

3. A toy according to claim 1; wherein at least one of said cardboardfigures includes a plurality of pivotally connected parts.

4. A toy according to claim 3; wherein said one figure has at least twomagnets secured `at the back of respective pivotally connected parts ofthe figure.

5. A toy according to claim 4; wherein said magnets secured torespective parts of the figure are spaced substantially away from thepivotal connection between the respective parts.

6. A toy according to claim 1; wherein said stage consists of acardboard blank having a -major rectangular section forming said backportion, marginal sections foldably joined to said major section alongthe edges of the latter and forming said side, top and oor portions,respectively, said top and side forming sections of the blank havingcooperating tabs and slots at their adjacent ends to hold said top andside forming sections in forwardly folded relation to said back formingsection, said side forming sections being out from said back formingsection along parts of said adjacent edges extending to the ends of saidside forming sections adjacent said floor forming section and furtherbeing cut transversely to said adjacent edges at the ends of said partsto dene said flaps, the adjacent ends of said flaps and said oor formingsection having cooperating tabs and slots to hold said flaps in inwardlyfolded relation to said side forming sections for defining said Wings.

7. A toy `according to claim 6; wherein said major section of thecardboard blank has steel foil bonded to the back surface thereof todefine said magnetizable layer.

8. A toy according to claim 6; Wherein said cardboard blank furtherincludes an apron forming section foldably joined to said floor formingsection along the edge of the latter remote from said back formingsection, a base forming section foldably joined to said apron for-mingsection along the edge of the latter remote from said floor formingsection and having a width substantially equal to that of the latter,and a securing flap section foldably joined to said base forming:section along the edge of the latter remote from said lapron formingsection and adapted to be secured to said back forming section upondownward folding of said apron forming section relative to said floorforming section, rearward folding of said base forming section relativeto said apron forming section :and upward folding of said securing flapsection relative to said base fonming section, whereby said base formingsection can rest on :a support surface to dispose said floor portion atan elevated position with respect to the support surface.

9. A toy comprising a folded cardboard structure including an erect,planar wall portion having a layer af magnetizable material securedthereto, at least one cardboard figure having a magnet secured to theback thereof so as to cooperate with said layer of magnetizable materialin magnetically holding said cardboard figure to one surface of saiderect Wall portion, and an actuating member movable over the oppositesurface of said wall portion and having a magnet to magnetically attractthe -magnet of said cardboard `figure held to said one surface forcausing said magnet of the cardboard figure to follow movements of saidmagnet of the actuating member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,066 12/1914 Barber 272-111,396,046 11/1921 Moore 46-13 2,637,138 5/1953 Doran et al 46-132,665,913 l/l954 Hlavac 273-1 2,837,863 6/1'958 Duvall 46-13 3,143,8268/ 1964 Ellis 46-240 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. WENTZEL, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

